Originally Posted by
Sunvox
First no way our pay rates will end up 5% higher than Delta's so, yes, the percent for us will be less and MUST be because AGAIN . . . no way we end up 5% over Delta.
Imagine if you will we get a 13/5/5/5 offer with no concessions, minor QOL gains, and a bump in some non-tax areas. Then UAL pilots vote it down. Months pass and we approach a release date. The potential for a strike becomes front page news in all the media outlets. Just happened to the railway workers, and they got a contract imposed on them by Congress with one extra day off and a 24% raise. So you guys think we can turn down 34% in total raises and Congress will let us strike for more?
Personally I don't think that is remotely possible, and I pray to God most pilots realize that as well. Fortunately, I think they do and will go on record here taking a WAG that the Delta AIP will become a TA and will get voted in 70/30 or higher.
Your evaluation of the rail strike and its implications for us is quite flawed. There were a number of factors in play there that are not in our situation.
First, the rail strike would have effected a very large amount of the economy, and for many there are no other solutions for their freight. A major airline strike would not affect the same wide swath of the economy, and there are other ways to pick up the transportation slack left behind. This would reduce the political pressure considerably to impose a contract.
Second, pattern bargaining really hurt them here. I think it was 8? out of the 12 rail unions had already accepted the deal, establishing a “pattern” demonstrating that this contract is what the industry would support. Pattern bargaining worked in management’s favor here. In our case, there is not this same pattern or even really the same structure.
Third, Christmas shipping.